The Voice • January 30, 2014 • Volume 46 • Issue 13

Break-ins on the rise in Oakridge area...................2 Police are warning residents to protect their homes after they received more than a dozen calls for break-ins last month

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No flu shots for Langara

January 30, 2014 • Vol. 46 no. #13 • vancouver, b.c.

MUSICANS JAM DURING BREAK

Vaccine shortages are province-wide this year

By EDMOND LU

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angara Health Services ran out of the flu vaccine for this flu season. It will not be receiving any more doses from the province, which is also running low on their stock of vaccines.

Massive demand for the vaccine took the province by surprise, with many clinics and pharmacies facing shortages and the Ministry of Health unable to resupply them quickly enough.

Six people have died in B.C. from H1N1 this flu season.

There have been more people wanting the flu vaccine this year, said Dr. Claire Talbot, who works at Langara Health Services.

“We ordered I think even more than last year but went through it very quickly,” said Talbot.

Rexall pharmacist Sanket Thakkar on Fraser Street believes the rise in demand resulted from the publicity of the H1N1 virus, one of three strains this year’s vaccine immunizes against.

According to a report by the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, H1N1 has accounted for more than 80 per cent of flu cases in the province. The report said H1N1 is unique because more people in younger age groups have been admitted to intensive care units due to influenza than usual. “[H1N1] has been in the flu vaccine for the last three years or so. I don’t think we’ve been so short on it before,” Talbot said.

FREEDIGITALPHOTOS.NET photo

LAUREN COLLINS photo

Cast members of YTV’s new show Some Assembly Required performing between takes of a recent taping in Vancouver. See story page 4.

Foreign students flood in Langara hopes its location will attract more international students

By ASHLEY LEGASSIC

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angara is becoming a more attractive destination for international students wanting to pursue a Canadian education.

The number of foreign students at Langara has jumped 63 per cent since 2004, rising from 609 international students to 994 in 2013.

The Stephen Harper government recently introduced a plan to double the amount of international students in Canada by 2022.

B.C.’s government introduced a plan in 2012 to increase the number of international students by 50 per cent by 2016. Langara is well on its way to doubling its international student numbers by the end of next year.

Foreign students studying in Canada are a large contributor to the economy, due to their increased tuition, but ac-

cording to Ian Humphreys, Langara’s vice-president of enrolment and business development, that’s not Langara’s main goal.

“There’s no denying that from a Canadian perspective, international students are a huge contributor to the economy,” Humphreys said. “Having said that . . . that isn’t really the key here.”

Humphreys thinks the opportunity to pursue education overseas is important for both Canadian and international students.

Langara attracts international students through international marketing, but Humphreys said Langara’s location makes it a prime choice for students.

“It helps to be in one of the most beautiful and desirable places to live in in the world,” he said.

Humphreys also said the option to go

to UBC after two years at Langara is appealing to students.

Commerce and business student Garima Shrestha said, “It’s a small place and I can get adjusted to it better.

Since I’m an international student I won’t be too overwhelmed.”

Langara offers various resources such as Homestay and Langara English for Academic Purposes to get international students to feel more comfortable going to school in Canada.

Sociology student Abby Feng said Langara’s Homestay program has made being an international student much easier for her.

“They arranged a place for me . . . and I really like it there, they help me a lot,” Feng said.

Langara is keeping up with the increased number of international students by expanding the capacity of classes and adding more classes.

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It helps to be in one of the most beautiful and desirable places to live in the world Ian Humphreys

South Vancouver gets approval for new seniors’ centre Seniors will soon have a new place to gather thanks to acquired funding

By JEREMY MATTHEWS

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outh Vancouver will be getting a seniors’ centre after more than a decade of requests by seniors.

The municipal government will pay $3.7 million toward the $7.5-million centre, located near Killarney Community Centre. The federal and provincial governments will pay the remaining $3.8

Printed on recycled paper

million, with the federal government paying $2.5 million, and the provincial government paying $1.3 million.

The centre will provide seniors with a space to meet and socialize, according to city councillor and Vision member Raymond Louie.

“It will have a positive impact on seniors,” Louie said. “It will give them a place to interact, to have meetings.”

He hopes the centre will help lonely south Vancouver seniors.

Different priorities by the previous municipal government are to blame for the long delay in approving a new centre, Louie said. But Mayor Gregor Robertson and his current Vision government have a continued focus on seniors, Louie said.

However, opposition councillor

George Affleck praised fellow Non-Partisan Association member Melissa De Genova on Twitter, citing her “tenacious determination” in campaigning for additional funding for the centre.

De Genova had been campaigning for additional city funding for the seniors’ centre for months.

Groundbreaking on the project is expected to commence in 2015.

Check out our web exclusives at http://langaravoice.com/

2

Editor NICK EAGLAND

The Voice, THURSDAY, January 30, 2014

News

Community garden gets green light Riverfront Garden will let locals grow fruit and vegetables in Vancouver’s Fraserview area

By CHRIS SLATER

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outh Vancouver residents are getting a new community garden following the Vancouver Park Board’s unanimous approval of the project earlier this month.

The Riverfront Garden will be incorporated around an existing tennis court, located between Elliot and Jellicoe streets near the north bank of the Fraser River.

The project, sponsored by both the South Vancouver Family Place Society and Fraserlands Community Gardening Group, was approved Jan. 20 and will see 40 garden plots spread over 630 square metres of Riverfront Park. It will include a tool shed, fruit-bearing trees, pollinator boxes and an area for compost production.

“We see this as a great place to bring the community together,” said Judith Horvath, chair of Fraserlands Community Gardening Group.

“There’s a lot of social housing [in the area] so I think there are people there who would certainly benefit from being able to grow some food.”

Horvath explained there are not many public green spaces in south Vancouver and the newly approved community garden has been welcomed by residents.

“There have been a number of people [in the area] over the years who have on their own tried to petition the city for a community garden.”

Sharon Babu of the South Vancouver Family Place Society is also pleased with the park board’s decision.

“There are no amenities down there so whatever we can get that can . . . support that grassroots community development is just great.”

Once the project is completed, members of the community will be able to reserve a space by putting their name on a list that is compiled on a first-come, first-served basis. Residents can keep their plot until they decide they no longer want it, when it will be passed on to the next applicant.

There will be a small fee for each plot to help cover insurance costs.

Horvath estimates construction of the gardens could begin as early as spring.

GRAHAM McFIE photo

Community policing volunteers Jason Yeh and Pamela Karellas patrol an Oakridge neighbourhood following an increase of break-ins.

Thieves target Oakridge area

Police report a sharp rise of break-in calls in first weeks of January

By Graham McFIE

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olice are urging Oakridge residents to be cautious following a sharp increase of break-and-enters in the area.

There were 15 break-ins reported in the first few weeks of January, with nine the week of Jan. 8 to Jan. 14, according to a Vancouver Police Department crime map.

“Unfortunately there are a number of factors that may lead to an increase in a given neighborhood,” said VPD spokesman Sgt. Randy Fincham.

“A new resident with a criminal history moving into a neighbourhood or . . . weather that causes residents to leave windows and doors unlocked may play a role.”

The Kerrisdale Oakridge Marpole Community Policing Centre actively

works with the community to prevent crimes like these.

Jeremy Sally, communications director for KOMCPC, said suspects often fit a stereotype: wearing a hooded sweater and backpack, walking without a destination, avoiding eye contact and gazing into homes and yards.

“They often have an aura about them that makes them seem out of place,” Sally said.

He recommended residents record a suspect’s description and make note of which direction they are headed.

“Police take these calls seriously. If they have enough information they will send a cruiser.”

KOMCPC Const. Ryan Hooper recommended residents build relationships with neighbors.

“The more people can get to know their neighbours and be encouraged to

report suspicious activity, the better -enabled the police department would be . . . to respond quicker.”

The policing centre provides an engraving service to etch a person’s driver’s licence number or BCID number onto their property to deter thieves.

“We promote engraving because many people have goods that are easy to steal and difficult to identify,” Sally said.

Hooper also recommended the program.

“It’s a fantastic program. If we come across stolen property and these things are engraved, it gives us a lot better access so we’re able to identify and also return people’s property.”

You can contact the KOMCPC about engraving at engraving@komcpc.com.

If you’re interested in volunteering, call 604-717-3433.

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Police take these calls seriously. If they have enough information they will send a cruiser

JEREMY SALLY

City approves rezone Developer proposes two towers, retail space, childcare centre in Marpole as part of city’s Cambie Corridor plan

By HANNAH MYRBERG

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HANNAH MYRBERG photo

Langara grad and NPA city councillor George Affleck (foreground) attends a public hearing where a developer’s application to rezone a property in Marpole was approved unanimously.

outh Vancouver will be the home of two new towers after Vancouver city council unanimously approved a developer’s rezoning application for a property in Marpole.

Following a Jan. 21 public hearing at city hall, council voted in favour of Wesgroup Properties’ plan to develop a 28,000 sq. ft. property at 8175 Cambie St., the former site of a Petro-Canada gas station.

The plan includes 368 condo units in 12- and 31-storey towers, 15,000 sq. ft. of commercial space and a 37-space childcare centre, to be built near the Marine Drive Canada Line station and Marine Gateway development.

The developer also secured $2 million for a 4500 sq. ft. space that is ex-

pected to become the home of Marpole Oakridge Family Place, which is still closed after it flooded in December.

Tracey Moir of the Oakridge Langara Area Residents group was the only speaker to voice opposition to the project at the hearing, while three others spoke in favour of it.

“This undermines the Cambie Corridor,” Moir said of the development. The Cambie Corridor plan is part of city hall’s goal to create sustainable urban neighbourhoods.

Marpole resident Janet Young raised questions about the development in a letter to city council.

“This development brings around another round of change to our neighbourhood, and it is difficult to envisage what it will look like and how it will impact our lives,” she wrote.

Campus news

Editor Vanessa SZPURKO

The Voice, THURSDAY, january 30, 2014

3

Very low candidate numbers Lukewarm response to open student positions on education council causes election postponement

By RENEE SUTTON

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LUKASZ JONCA photo

Terri Havill is one of the registered nurses who works with the Bloodmobile, a self-contained blood donor clinic driving to Langara Feb. 3

Step right up and get pricked British Columbia hospitals experiencing a shortage of blood donors

By LUKASZ JONCA

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hey want to suck your blood, but they’ll give you a drink and a snack afterwards.

The Canadian Blood Services Bloodmobile is coming to Langara on Feb. 3, giving students, faculty and the surrounding community a chance to donate blood.

Currently there are only three bloodmobiles operating in Canada, one of which is based in Vancouver. Its goal is boosting the volume of donations through awareness, when many people don’t realize the importance of donating blood and the positive effect their donations can make in someone’s life.

It takes about 50 donors to collect enough blood for the victim of a car accident. Patients battling leukemia need

around eight donors a week, said Stephanie Scott with CBS. There are several challenges concerning blood donations. Scott said British Columbia is currently importing blood from Alberta because there are not enough donors to meet the needs of local hospitals.

Last year roughly 30 per cent of Canadians said they would donate blood but the actual number was less than four per cent, she added.

“Most blood donations are used within five days. It does have a shelflife of 42 days,” she said.

“People think we can just kind of stockpile blood and we can’t. It actually does expire.”

In addition, not all blood types are compatible, and some donors must be turned away for their own safety be-

cause of iron deficiencies. People also forget about their appointments or call in sick.

Another strain on the service is that the minimum time between blood donations is 56 days.

This year it will take more than 850,000 units of blood to treat patients.

“Our target on the Bloodmobile is 36 units of blood, so we usually need to book about 50 appointments to make that happen,” Scott said.

Vincci Chung, a nursing student, said, “The nurses there are very, very hospitable. You feel like a VIP while you’re giving blood.

“They give you an awesome selection of juice and cookies.

“You feel like you just went to the grocery store, but they’re giving you everything for free.”

To find out more Interested in making a blood donation yo canadian blood services?

Call: 1 888 2 DONATE Visit: www.blood.ca

A new year, a new semester - and a new president Langara’s third president hopes with time school will become known as ‘the best college in Canada’

By BEN ZUTTER

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angara welcomed its third president Lane Trotter on Jan. 20, and he couldn’t be happier about his new job and the challenges it will bring.

“As of day five, everything that led me to make the decision after I was offered the position, and even applying for the position, has been reinforced.

“I made the right decision in accepting the position to become Langara’s president, and I feel so privileged and honoured to be here,” Trotter said.

He is still very new to the job, but Trotter has high hopes for the college.

“What I would like to see Langara be is the best college in Canada,” he said.

“It might take five or 10 years, but I want people across the country to know who Langara College is.”

Trotter has more than 22 years of work experience in the higher education sector.

Former interim president Roy Daykin has spoken with the college’s new leader.

“The tone of our discussion focused on helping me to be successful at Lan-

gara College and passing on his knowledge and expertise so that I have a better sense of the college,” Trotter said.

In his final letter before returning to his previous position as vice-president of administration and finance and chief financial officer, Daykin also suggested that one of the challenges facing the organization would be dealing with losses to funding.

Trotter would not comment on specifics, but did recognize the ongoing challenge faced by both colleges and governments to meet the budgetary needs of their respective post-secondary institutions.

For now, he is focused on learning about what drives Langara’s community.

“My first period of time here is getting to understand culture, getting to understand the people.

“What are their aspirations and goals for the organization? What are the students’ aspirations and goals?” he said.

“That’s what I’m trying to do with all of the people I’m meeting - understand the college through their lens.”

KK LAW photo

Lane Trotter has a Doctorate of Education from Simon Fraser University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Victoria

wo student seats on the Langara education council are empty after a scarcity of nominations.

The spring election application deadline has been pushed back to Feb. 4 because not enough students have applied. Applicant numbers were unavailable.

Of four student positions on the council, one male and one female position are filled every semester for a oneyear term.

The education council consists of 12 elected faculty and support-staff members, four elected students and four education administrators appointed by the Langara president. It’s the final step of approval for policies on student evaluation, grading, curriculum, withdrawals and Gerta Krause awards.

Education “ Cu r r i c u l u m council chair usually is developed in a department,” said Gerda Krause, education council chair.

“It goes through several layers of approval. Finally it comes to EdCo, and EdCo is what makes it official.”

A couple of students said there was not enough promotion surrounding the call for nominations.

An email notifying students of the opportunity to campaign was sent on Jan. 20, four days before the original deadline.

“I deleted a couple of emails that said important elections, but I’ve seen nothing posted around the school,” Owen Bishop, a theatre student said.

Science student Laura Baker Owen Bishop said she remem- Theatre student at Langara bered receiving the email but didn’t know anything about what the elections were for.

On the other hand, economics student Andy Li was aware of the call for nominations. He remembered receiving the email and seeing papers around campus announcing elections.

Students applying for a position on the Education Council must have a schedule that accommodates council meetings, which can deter many students from applying, Krause said.

There are usually one to three applicants.

“Sometimes there’s an election, sometimes it’s more of an acclamation,” she added. “It’s a nice thing to have on their resume, which I think is why people choose to do it.”

The deadline to apply for a student position is 4 p.m. on Feb. 4.

Students can use their myLangara account to view candidate statements and cast their ballots from Feb. 13 to Feb. 19.

A meeting schedule, minutes, list of current council members, EdCo bylaws and election procedures can be found online at: http://langara.bc.ca/aboutlangara/education-council/index.html

4

The Voice, THURSDAY, Jan 30, 2014

Editor Bill Everitt

Entertainment

Langara grad gets famous Appearing in movies, making rap music and starring in television, Little T is a triple-threat

By LAUREN COLLINS

A

graduate of Langara’s department of film arts is starring in YTV’s new show Some Assembly Required.

Travis Turner, 26, plays 16-year-old Aster who works for his friend’s toy company. He designs the overall look of the toys while managing to critique everyone around him.

“If you have bad style, he’s gonna tell you, or he’s gonna leave the room. He’s super into fashion,” said Turner. He calls himself ‘The King of Swag.’

He said he tries to find ways to relate to his characters, but finding swag wasn’t difficult because of his rapping career.

In August 2012 Turner released the album Back to Basics under the name Little T. Filming for the show began in the summer, but Turner started auditioning at the beginning of last year. After multiple auditions, he was cast as Aster.

The soon-to-be head of the film arts department, Garwin Sanford, had nothing but praise for Turner’s acting ability and professionalism.

“He always got better the whole time he was here,” said Sanford. “You don’t get that with every actor. You don’t get that with every student.”

During a taping of the show, Turner earned laughs from the audience during his scenes. But between takes he continued to work hard and practice his lines.

Turner enjoyed his time at Langara, thanking the program for allowing writers, directors and actors to collaborate on films.

“The writers, the directors and the actors all work together on producing your film,” said Turner. “A lot of places will have them all separate when in actuality, you wanna be working with those people.”

Film instructor Alyson Drysdale remembers Turner as being “an incredibly positive” student.

Turner’s advice to current Langara students? “Persistence overcomes resistance.”

Ali Crane photo

Joan Storlund and Dana Peterson took advantage of Dine Out to celebrate Peterson’s birthday at Seasons in the Park on Cambie Street.

Treat yourself during the twelfth annual Dine Out Smaller price tag allows Vancouverites to try some new menus

By ALI CRANE

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ancouver foodies are rejoicing now that Dine Out Vancouver, the largest restaurant festival in the country, has returned.

Dine Out is a 17-day gastronomic celebration running from Jan. 17 to Feb. 2.

More than 200 restaurants are participating around the city. Restaurants offer three-course set menus at $18, $28, and $38 per person, giving the opportunity for Vancouverites to try out new joints at a fair price.

Tourism Vancouver’s spokesperson Amber Sessions said Dine Out was cre-

ated as a solution to the decline in business after the holiday season. It’s the first of its kind in Canada, starting out with 57 restaurants back in 2003.

“It’s two weeks of Christmas all over again,” said manager of Seasons in the Park restaurant Richard Baker.

“The same thing you pay for a threecourse meal, you’re paying for an entrée at most places,” Baker said. “It gives you a chance to enjoy a dining experience at any restaurant that is perhaps out of your reach on a regular basis.”

Jason Zeng, founder of the Langara Foodie Club, is thrilled about the op-

portunity for students to enjoy a fine dining experience on a student budget.

“It’s a good way to try out new dishes. You can have a better time with a bunch of friends,” said Zeng.

“Usually if you go out it will cost around $80 to $100. Now they have $38 for all of it.”

Organizers suggested reservations at participating restaurants should be made at least a week in advance by phone. They can also be made at OpenTable.com or DineOutVancouver. com. Students can find information on the Langara Foodie Club by searching the group on Facebook.

Richard Baker General manager at Seasons in the Park restaruant

Grease: An edgy and original take Studio 58’s first-ever performance of storied play returns to the roots of original Broadway production

By ERIN BOE

S

Lauren Collins photo

Travis Turner during a live taping

tudio 58 will begin a three-week run of Grease starting Jan. 30, but it won’t be the version that most people associate with the movie.

This will be director Peter Jorgensen’s debut production with Studio 58, and the first time Studio 58 has performed Grease in the 49 years the program has been running.

“The version of Grease that most people are accustomed to or are familiar with is the movie version,” said acting student Erik Gow. “However, before it was ever put on film, there was a stage version that was really edgy, there was a lot less fluff and Abba in it.

We’re going back to the original roots of Grease.”

“What we’re doing is more like the original Broadway production,” said acting student Leana Brown, 27. “[It has an] original script and original

score, so it’s gonna be a lot more edgy.

There’s gonna be a few songs that weren’t in the movie, so that will be an exciting thing to check out.”

Jorgensen, who has done several productions of Grease, had high praise for his cast. “I’ve enjoyed them from the moment we started doing the auditions. I’m really enjoying working with everybody here.”

Grease will be on stage at Studio 58 until Feb. 23. Although the first few shows are sold out, tickets are still available for later shows, including a sing-along night on Feb. 5.

There are student rush seats available for $10 on the day of each performance on a first-come, first-served basis. They must be purchased in person the day of – no reservations are accepted. The box office opens at 7 p.m. (for 8 p.m. curtain) and 2 p.m. (for 3 p.m. curtain). All students must have valid ID. For general admission tickets, visit www.ticketstonight.ca.

Erin Boe photo

Acting students rehearse for the upcoming performance.

Lifestyles

Editor GAVIN FISHER

The Voice, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

5

Healing program expands BCMA says the therapies taught in the program are ‘medically useless’

By LESLIE KAM

L ASH KELLY photos

Top and right: Former Langara student Lindsey Luckey teaching chair yoga to a group of students with MS at the Multiple Sclerosis Natural Health Strategies Symposium at the Vancouver Central Library on Saturday, Jan. 25.

Grad chooses yoga over meds Grad with MS found relief through yoga, now wants to teach others

By ASH KELLY

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oga and nutrition have replaced medication for 26-year-old Lindsey Luckey, who lives with multiple sclerosis.

Luckey was studying fine arts at Langara when she was diagnosed in 2007. After graduating, she returned to Langara and completed her yoga teacher training in February 2013. Now an instructor, she taught a chair yoga session at the MS Natural Health Strategies Symposium last Saturday.

During the early stages of her disease, Luckey took drugs prescribed by her neurologist. The side effects were worse than any MS symptoms she had experienced.

“I would always wake up in cold sweats. My whole body shaking, fingers and toes just aching, my whole body aching,” said Luckey.

After seeing a pamphlet for iyengar yoga at an MS clinic, Luckey made the decision to forgo medication, and instead manage her disease using alternative means.

Iyengar focuses on posture and tech-

nique, but it’s also adaptive. The practice incorporates props like blocks, straps, walls and chairs to assist students. Despite that, it allows students the full benefits of poses, which is why Luckey said it is appropriate for people with MS. “One day, they might be feeling great; they can stand on one leg no problem,” Luckey said.

“Then the next week’s class, they might just feel like they’re spinning and they have no balance.”

The benefits of yoga for those with MS include strength and balance improvement, especially in the legs, which are commonly affected early in the disease.

Luckey stressed that physical improvements, important as they are, aren’t the only benefit of practicing yoga.

“It helps with a lot of the emotional effects that come along with having MS. Especially fear,” Lucky said.

“How am I going to support myself?

Am I going to be able to have family?

Am I going to be able to have kids one day? How am I going to pay for all my

healthcare treatments and my supplements, and vitamins? That’s huge, there’s always this underlying fear with MS.” Through yoga, Luckey is able to overcome the anxiety of living with MS. “What it really comes down to is acceptance, just being OK with where you are, being grateful for what you do have,” she said.

Luckey will be returning to Langara in March to take a course specializing in yoga instruction for students with mobility issues and chronic conditions.

She hopes to find a space where she can offer a holistic approach to MS patients by incorporating her training as a yoga instructor and a nutritionist.

“In addition to a regular yoga practice, following a specific diet has also had a huge impact on my illness,” she said.

Anuradha Hannah of the Langara yoga teacher training faculty spoke highly of Luckey.

“Lindsey has embraced life and the experiences it has given her. She is exceptional in her attitude and outlook, positive and forward facing.”

“

It helps with a lot of the emotional effects that come along with having MS. Especially fear LINDSEY LUCKEY

angara’s controversial integrative energy healing program has expanded to satellite campuses in Nanaimo, Edmonton and Whitehorse this semester.

The program has been around for 15 years, with Langara being the first post-secondary school to offer certificates to students in this field of alternative medicine.

According to program instructor Monica Heuser, certified energy healers restore balance in a person’s energy field.

Dr. Lloyd Oppel of the British Columbia Medical Association is critical of the program’s expansion.

“We are not in favour of anything that hasn’t been proven to work,” said Oppel. “The energy fields they claim to see do not exist.”

The BCMA called the program’s therapies “medically useless” in a 2009 article in the Globe and Mail.

Ruth Lamb, program coordinator and instructor of the energy healing program, defended the practice.

“The [BCMA] is the only organization that has publicly criticized the program,” Lamb said.

“Other than them, [energy healing] is welcomed by the health care profession.” She added that energy healing has been recognized by Vancouver Coastal Health and clinics for 15 years.

Integrative energy healing is based on principles of Western scientific energy medicine and ancient Eastern teachings. It is a form of holistic health that focuses on the human body’s energy field and its goal is to awaken the body’s innate healing potential.

Langara currently offers the integrative energy healing intensive program and the two-year advanced certificate program. The intensive program is a prerequisite to the advanced course and currently the only program available at the satellite campuses.

This spring, integrative energy healing students will be working with nurses in high-stress areas at Surrey Memorial Hospital as part of a research project, on the request of the Fraser Health Authority.

Langara bookstore selling health-activity trackers Bookstore began stocking Fitbits as part of college’s WellnessFits program

By DAVID LA RIVIERE

T

he Langara bookstore started selling the Fitbit Zip and Flex healthactivity trackers to help improve the college’s general health and fitness.

Fitbits actively monitor personal health statistics that can be tracked on computers and supported mobile devices. According to Amelia Lau, a bookstore manager, they were initially brought in as part of a program started through the Langara human resources department called WellnessFits. WellnessFits is a Canadian Cancer Society-

supported program that helps businesses and organizations keep their employees healthy and productive by encouraging physical activity.

Staff and employees at Langara were the main reason for stocking the Fitbits, but Adams hopes that students buy them too.

“We hope they sell well, as that might mean that employees and students are taking fitness seriously,” said Mark Adams, director of ancillary services at the bookstore.

The Fitbit Zip sells for $59.95 at the bookstore, and the Flex sells for $99.95.

Adams won his Fitbit in a golf tournament and has lost 15 pounds since he started using it. Of all of its functions, Adams takes advantage of the calorie tracker the most.

“The calorie tracker on the app is amazing. You can enter on the fly and see exactly where you are at.”

Even though Fitbit Inc. has been gaining momentum in the past few years, their activity trackers aren’t as popular among Vancouver’s young adults as fitness trackers like the Nike+FuelBand.

Sebastian Kovacs, a Langara arts and sciences student, has never heard of Fitbit activity trackers but is open to the idea.

“I might buy one if I ever got around to exercising,” Kovacs said.

Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast or just a regretful student trying to justify that second cheddar bacon burger you had for lunch, a Fitbit activity tracker might be just what you need.

Mark Adams, director of ancillary services at the Langara bookstore, sporting his Fitbit tracker.

Adams says he has lost 15 pounds since he started using it.

DAVID LA RIVIERE photo

6

Editor TYLER HOOPER

The Voice, THURSDAY, January 30, 2014

viewpoints

Why can’t we be friends, LSU? A

nother semester is underway and the Langara Students’ Union has shown promise of forming better relations with the Voice.

It’s been hard to keep track of what’s going in the LSU; they’ve gone through more media representatives than we here in the journalism program can keep track of.

But hope appears to be on the horizon. In fact, the newest media representative for the LSU stopped by the department at the start of this semester.

Ed Hensley suggested he’s going to make more of an effort to cooper-

ate and be more transparent with what’s going on in the LSU. Words like this, especially coming from a government body, are hollow in the eyes of skeptical journalists such as myself.

But part of me hopes the LSU and journalism students can turn over a new leaf this semester.

It’s a wellTyler hooper known fact that history between

OPINION

the LSU and the Voice is one full of conflict and tension, but it doesn’t have to continue this way.

I’ll be the first to admit there’s room for improvement on both sides. We tend to bombard the LSU with emails and phone calls in hopes of snatching up an interview or getting a quote.

I’m sure this can get annoying, but we’re not doing it because we enjoy terrorizing the LSU staff. No, actually, we’re just doing our job and due diligence by reporting on the student body.

The reason for this is so we can inform you, the student, of what

your student government is doing with those fees you pay each semester.

So as this semester picks up, I hope the LSU and its new media representative will follow through with their intent on establishing a better relationship with the Voice.

In turn, I only hope this new relationship will allow us to establish a more transparent line of communication; one that looks towards cooperation, rather than hostility, so we can report accurately and fairly.

At the very least, I suppose one can dream.

The Voice is published by Langara College’s journalism department.

Editorial opinions are those of the staff and are independent of views of the student government and administration.

We welcome letters to the editor. All letters must be signed. They may be edited for brevity.

Names may be withheld in special cases, but your letter must include your name and phone number.

HOW TO REACH US

Try energy healing for yourself

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604-323-5396

FAX

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Room A226 Langara College There is a mailbox at the entrance to the journalism rooms.

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W

hen energy healing is brought up, skepticism and disbelief often arise. It’s not uncommon to see someone air quote around the words “energy,” as if it’s make believe.

For some, energy healing can be an ambiguous concept to grasp.

Something very serene and holistic may come to mind, which can bring questions of legitimacy, compared to more traditional means of Karly Blats medicine.

However, trying to find reasons why energy healing doesn’t work is a difficult thing to do.

There’s a thriving community made up of patients, students and professionals who insist on the lasting effects integrated energy has on the body.

“This is a movement in our society right now,” said Langara’s Integrated Energy Healing program coordinator Dr. Ruth Lamb. “It’s very well received by the traditional conventional health care system.”

Although it seems questionable, energy healing is a remarkable alternative to conventional treatments, like prescription pills, which can be “expensive and toxic,” said William Lafferty, MD and author of the article Healing, Medical Care, and Health Service Organization.

The Integrative Energy Healing program at Langara was founded 15 years ago by a team of nurses with certificates and degrees in transformative healing.

The fact that a group of nurses collectively formed a program that teaches people how to heal holistically proves that there must be something legitimate about energy healing.

However, the debate continues about how legitimate energy healing is in the medical world, and whether it’s a placebo effect or not.

The mind is an amazing instrument.

With the right teachings anyone can learn to take control and manage their pain. I say don’t knock it till you try it and educate yourself. Who knows, you may be in for a spiritual awakening.

V

the oice

The Voice 100 West 49th Ave. Vancouver, B.C. V5Y 2Z6

WEBSITE www.langaravoice.com

EDITORIAL STAFF THIS ISSUE: MANAGING EDITOR/ PAGE 6 Tyler Hooper

PAGE EDITORS PAGE 1 Andrea Anthony

OPINION

PAGE 2

Nick Eagland

PAGE 3 Vanessa Szpurko

PAGE 4 Bill Everitt

PAGE 5 Gavin Fisher

PAGE 7 Amy Jones

PAGE 8

Jesse Lam

WEB EDITORS Nadim Roberts Kendra Wong

REPORTERS

Take advantage of Dine Out A

ttention all foodies: the largest restaurant festival in Canada is back and doing great things for Vancouver.

The 12th annual Dine Out Vancouver Festival has begun, and with new restaurant participants and events, this year is shaping up to be more enticing than usual.

Since 2003, Tourism Vancouver has used Dine Out to bring hungry people from across the country to unique restaurants in Vancouver.

But you don’t have to be from out of town to join the festivities. Dine Out encourages you to step out of your comfort zone and make reservations somewhere you’ve never been before.

Not only does Dine Out spark community curiosity, it also creates the perfect opportunity for students

living on a budget to experience high-quality food at affordable prices.

Besides the obvious plus of increased sales for restaurants and hotels, Dine Out has earned positive recognition for Vancouver restaurants.

This year boasts an impressive list of 263 restaurants that range from pubs to revolving restaurants, with set menus as cheap as $18.

Twenty dollars for a three-course meal? That’s hard to beat.

By participating in Dine Out, businesses get the chance to showcase their best dishes at prices that attract customers on a budget.

Romer’s Burger Bar is the sole participant in the south Vancouver area, but the lunch menu includes selections like a Magic Mushroom

Burger and Drunken Doughnuts.

If that doesn’t sound like the ideal post-class pick-me-up, I don’t know what is.

The prices are perfect for students, and the restaurants benefit from an increase in business during a usually slow time of the year.

From sit-down restaurants and Megan bobetsis food trucks to a London-style double-decker-bus food tour, Dine Out has something for everyone.

So get out there Vancouver, this might be the only time it’s acceptable to post a picture of your food.

OPINION

Karly Blats Megan Bobetsis Erin Boe Lauren Collins Alissa Crane Edrick Dudang Madelyn Forsyth-Schiewe Mike Hodder Lukasz Jonca Leslie Kam Ash Kelly David LaRiviere Ashley Legassic Edmond Lu Jeremy Matthews Graham McFie Hannah Myrberg Christopher Slater Renee Sutton Ben Zutter

Contact us: Online at langaravoice.com

Twitter at @langaraVoice

Issues & ideas

The Voice, THURSDAY, JANURARY 30, 2014

Editor AMY JONES

Feeling the January blues?

Langara counselor has a prescription for students’ winter doldrums

7

New Year’s resolutions still trendy Resolutions that are overambitious and difficult to measure most likely to fail

By MEGAN BOBETSIS

M

KARLY BLATS photo

Langara students head to school in a dismal cloud of fog on Monday morning to spend hours inside classrooms, many with no windows.

By KARLY BLATS

W

ith the holiday season in our wake and little to look forward to, the winter blues may be weighing students down like their book-filled backpacks.

Students are settling back into their academic routines, and the bulky workload can be draining. Back to the grind can mean long days with little daylight.

Students may find themselves feeling down or depressed this time of year with a case of the winter blues. Waking up to darkness, spending most of the day in classrooms, many without windows, and returning home late can lead to an unhealthy cycle.

Tim Charters, chair of Langara’s counselling department, said it’s nor-

mal to feel down in the winter. “There’s even a diagnosis called seasonal affective disorder,” he said.

“Certainly, people don’t have to have a diagnosis to feel down in winter.”

Charters emphasized the importance of breaking your humdrum routine and said that pushing yourself out of that negative cycle is essential to feel better.

“Try to maintain some kind of physical activity,” Charters said. “Eating healthy will have beneficial effects.”

Mike Climie, business marketing student, said he beats the winter blues by “drinking and jamming with buddies.”

Nursing student Desiree Bigornia said she hits the gym when it’s cold out.

“The treadmills face outside, and it beats the winter blues,” she said.

Wyatt Naylor, associated arts student, said he “plays video games, watches movies and reads” to pass the time.

If you’re really missing the sun, Charters said there’s a lamp you can buy that replicates sunlight. “It can be helpful to spend a bit of time literally getting sunlight, and they’re brighter than the normal day light,” he said.

The therapeutic lamps are called light boxes and can be bought at WalMart or other drug stores.

If you’re feeling blue and need someone to talk to, the counselling department is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays. The department is located in room B111, and there are plenty of counselors available to help.

tim charters Langara counselling department

“

Try to maintain some kind of physical activity.

Gallop toward Chinese New Year There’s something for everyone with all the Year of the Horse celebrations in Vancouver this weekend

By ASHLEY LEGASSIC

G

ASHLEY LEGASSIC photo

Decorations are on sale at Aberdeen Centre, Richmond.

ung Hay Fat Choy, Langara students!

Chinese New Year is just around the corner and Vancouver is getting ready to celebrate.

Before you put your party pants on there are a few things you need to know about one of China’s most important traditional holidays.

Chinese New Year falls on this Friday, Jan. 31, and so begins the Year of the Horse.

If you were born in 1979 or 1990, your luck will be maximized if you “wear red underpants or a red belt for the entire lunar year,” according to journalism student Edmond Lu. If you’re not born in the Year of the Horse, there are some things you can do to ensure you have all the luck you need.

To make sure you don’t wash away potential wealth, the International Business Times suggests avoiding washing your hair for the first three days of the lunar year.

The new year also calls for new things; it’s widely believed in Chinese culture that new things purchased in

the beginning of the lunar year will bring about new beginnings.

Now that your luck is set for the new year, it’s time to celebrate.

Vancouver has many events for Chinese New Year to entertain its Chinese population of more than 402,000.

Some of the most popular events going on in the city include Richmond’s Aberdeen Centre’s Chinese New Year Flower & Gift Fair, running until Jan. 31; Vancouver’s Chinese New Year Parade & Cultural Fair on Feb. 2 in Chinatown; and LunarFest from Feb. 8 - 9 at the Vancouver Art Gallery plaza.

The Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver organized Vancouver’s first Chinese New Year Parade in 1974, and it has been running every year since.

Although Vancouver has many celebrations going on for the new year, some Vancouver residents such as Centina Lowe prefer to spend time at home with their families and eat a traditional Chinese Dinner on New Year’s Eve. Chinese New Year is a time for families who are spread out all over the world to come back together to celebrate.

aking New Year’s resolutions is a popular tradition that many Langara students take part in.

Counsellor Tim Charters said making resolutions is a healthy part of human nature.

“Human beings in general have a desire to make positive changes in their lives and to move forward,” he said.

Dietetics student Emily Falletta’s resolution is “no more Starbucks.”

“It’s expensive and not healthy for you,” she said, adding that she has not broken her resolution yet.

As to why people resort to Jan. 1 to set goals, Charters said it’s more of a “cultural idea,” and that humans place significance on dates, making New Year’s Day “hold a lot of psychological relevance.”

Student Betty Chan said she didn’t bother making a resolution this year because she usually doesn’t end up following through.

Her resolution last year to eat better and work out lasted about two weeks.

According to the Toronto Star, only 19 per cent of Canadians keep their resolutions the whole year.

Over-ambitious resolutions and goals that aren’t measurable often fail, Charters said.

“Behavioural change takes effort.”

It’s important to stick to the SMART acronym when making a goal, Charters said.

Goals should be specific, measurable, action oriented, realistic and time related.

Incorporating these key elements will increase a person’s chance of success, he said.

Losing weight or becoming healthier are the most common resolutions, and Charters said it is easy to change those into a SMART goal.

“A more appropriate goal would be ‘I want to make sure I eat three different kinds of vegetables every day,’” he said.

Charters said making New Year resolutions has become a popular “culturally accepted practice.”

RESOLUTIONS

What goals did you set?

EMILY FALLETTA Student

“No more Starbucks. It’s expensive and not healthy for you.”

HENRY CHAU Student

“Get into the business administration faculty.”

MARIA AHMED Student

“Be happier by listening to upbeat music and going out with friends.”

COMPILED BY MEGAN BOBETSIS

8

The Voice, THURSDAY, January MONTH XX, 30,,2013 2014

Editor firstEditor name last jessename lam

sports

Greig: Metta World Peace approves Langara Falcons’ point guard leads the basketball team to a 13-1 record in the PacWest standings

By MIKE HODDER

I

t’s not hard to see why point guard Brody Greig and the Langara Falcons are the No. 1 men’s college basketball team in Canada.

Falcons’ head coach Paul Eberhardt said Greig, voted PacWest player of the week earlier this month, caught the eye of New York Knicks forward Metta World Peace in an off-season scrimmage match at a Richmond high school.

“We did some workouts with Metta last summer,” said Eberhardt. “After the first game the first comment he made was, ‘Who is that guy? He can really play.’”

BRODY GREIG You don’t have Langara Falcons to take World Point Guard Peace’s word for it, Greig’s record speaks for itself.

“He’s No.1 for asWe’ve got sists. No one’s even close to him, but eight or he’s also in the top nine guys 10 for both scoring and rebounds and that can for a point guard really that’s pretty rare,” said Eberhardt. score the “He just thrives in ball the up-tempo system that we run.

He’s so talented at fast-pace basketball.”

The Falcons are averaging more than 100 points a game, dominating the 2013-14 season, earning the team a 13-1 record. Known for their fast-paced offence, they’re also shutting down their opponents left, right and centre.

Grieg says this is due to Eberhardt’s defensive strategy of, “score more points than the other team.” The Falcons took home two back-to-back road wins last weekend against Camosun and league rivals, Vancouver Island University.

With the playoffs on the horizon, all eyes are on Langara to win the PacWest championship, something Greig believes is going to happen. “We can score. We’ve got eight or nine guys that can really score the ball,” said Grieg.

“If we keep playing good defense I think we can make that happen.”

“

LAURA MAY photo

Langara Falcons’ midfielder Carlos Marquez dribbles past defenders from Douglas College in a game last season.

Ex-Whitecap leads Falcons Reigning Rookie of the Year helps Falcons back to winning ways

By MADELYN FORSYTH

A

high turnover in players plagued the Langara Falcons soccer team last September but Carlos Marquez’s years of experience made him stand out.

The title Rookie of the Year only adds to the 20-year-old’s long list of achievements. Marquez was part of the provincial team for three years as well as playing for the Richmond United Metro for six years before being signed to the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency program in 2010.

Marquez was not signed by the

Whitecaps last year and has been focusing on his studies and improving his game with the Falcons. Head coach Marc Rizzardo said Marquez is focused on taking the “college route” right now and will then try for the professional league again.

“He is extremely skillful and knowledgeable,” said Rizzardo. “He’s just got that extra experience that sometimes sets him aside from other people.”

Rizzardo highlighted the fact that most opposing teams didn’t know what to expect when faced with Marquez last season.

Nicholas Chen, defenceman for the

Falcons, has been playing with Marquez for almost eight years. Chen described him as a laid-back player who rarely gets overwhelmed on the field.

“His pre-game mentality is always relaxed, he never stresses,” said Chen.

“One thing that stands out is his ability to beat players one on one and create scoring opportunities.”

Marquez has been able to power through when things haven’t gone his way. Even though the residency program didn’t work out for him last year, he was able to look past it and see the positives in an otherwise disappointing situation.

“

One thing that stands out is his ability to beat players one-onone COACH RIZZARDO

Langara looks to smash Douglas The Falcons badminton team hope for a win in Kamloops against rivals Douglas College

By EDRICK DUDANG

T

he Langara Falcons badminton team hopes to secure their lead in the PacWest standings this Friday at Thompson Rivers University.

The team is currently ahead of reigning champions Douglas College Royals.

Langara won the first tournament of the season at Douglas College but lost to the Royals at the second tournament held at Vancouver Island University, which

placed the Falcons at second.

“They [Douglas College] have a powerhouse team,” said coach Marc Petreman.

However, given the strong performance Langara put out against Douglas College in the first half of the season, Petremen believes they can win.

“If we played to our full potential, I really believe we can win,” said Petreman, looking back to their victory at Douglas College.

Petreman believes Douglas College is their main threat. The other schools, “all have a couple of strong teams. However, we have the overall stronger team.”

Ashley Jang, who plays in the mixed doubles and the women’s doubles

teams, is also extremely confident that the Falcons can take home the gold.

She is recovering from a torn ACL, injured in August 2012. Despite the setback, she and Nathan Choi placed second in both tournaments in the mixeddoubles bracket. In addition, she and Florina Lau placed second and third in the women’s doubles bracket in both tournaments.

She praised her new team and is glad that her teammates are giving it their all.

“This team is good compared to other years,” said Jang. “About 90 per cent of our practices, everyone shows up.”

She also believes that she is returning to her full potential as her knee heals, and expects to be in first place.

EDRICK DUDANG photo

Langara Falcons Andrew Li practices his backhand.